Below is a list of compounds known to affect wine flavour.
Flavour compound | Descriptor | Origin |
1-Methylpyrrole-2-methanethiol | Hazelnut | Chardonnay |
1-Octen-3-ol | Mushroom | Mouldy grapes |
2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine | Chocolate | Oak |
2,6-Dichlorophenol | Antiseptic | Chlorophenol taint |
2-Aminoacetophenone | Artificial grape | Premature oxidation |
2-Ethoxyhexa-3,5-diene | Geranium leaves | Geranium taint |
2-Furanmethanethiol | Toasty | Sparkling wine bottle ageing |
2-Methoxy-3,5-dimethylpyrazine | Mouldy | Fungal must |
2-Methyl-3-furanthiol | Meaty | Oak |
2-MIB | Mouldy | Cork taint |
2-Phenylacetaldehyde | Honey | Bottle ageing |
3-MH | Grapefruit | Fermentation |
3-MHA | Passion fruit | Sauvignon Blanc |
4-EC | Horse blanket | Brettanomyces |
4-EG | Bacon | Brettanomyces |
4-EP | Horse blanket | Brettanomyces |
4-MMP | Box tree | Sauvignon Blanc |
4-Vinyl guaiacol | Honeysuckle | Skin contact |
4-Vinyl phenol | Medicinal | Fermentation |
6-Chloro-o-cresol | Medicinal | Contaminated yeast hulls |
Acetaldehyde | Bruised apple | Fermentation, oxidation |
Acetic acid | Vinegar | Volatile acidity |
APY | Mouse cage | Mousiness |
ATHP | Mouse cage | Mousiness |
Bell pepper pyrazine | Green bell pepper | Cabernet Sauvignon and others |
Benzaldehyde | Almond | Oxidation |
Benzenemethanethiol | Minerality? | Fermentation |
Benzyl acetate | Cherry | Fermentation |
Butanol | Pungent | Fermentation |
cis-3-Hexenol | Grass | Underripe grapes |
cis-3-Hexenyl acetate | Green banana | Fermentation |
cis-Rose oxide | Lychee | Gewürztraminer |
Citral | Citrus | Fermentation |
Citric acid | Citric | Grape pulp |
Coffee thiol | Coffee | Oak |
Diacetyl | Butter | Malolactic conversion |
DMDS | Rotten vegetables | Reduction, light strike |
DMS | Truffle | Bottle ageing |
Ethanol | Alcohol | Fermentation |
ETHP | Mouse cage | Mousiness |
Ethyl acetate | Nail varnish remover | Volatile acidity |
Ethyl butyrate | Mango | Fermentation |
Ethyl cinnamate | Cinnamon | Carbonic maceration |
Ethyl decanoate | Wax | Fermentation |
Ethyl hexanoate | Apple | Fermentation |
Ethyl mercaptan | Drains | Reduction, light strike |
Ethyl octanoate | Wax | Fermentation |
Ethyl phenyl acetate | Honey | Bottle ageing |
Ethyl-2-hydroxy-4-methylpentanoate | Blackberry | Fermentation |
Ethyl-2-methyl butyrate | Strawberry laces | Fermentation |
Ethyl-2-methylpropanoate | Strawberry | Fermentation |
Eucalyptol | Eucalyptus | Eucalyptus trees |
Eugenol | Cloves | Oak – medium toast |
Furaneol | Strawberry | Fermentation |
Geosmin | Beetroot | Cork taint |
Geraniol | Rose | Muscat |
Glycerol | Viscous | Fermentation |
Guaiacol | Smoke | Oak, smoke taint |
H2S | Boiled eggs | Reduction, light strike |
Hexanoic acid | Fruity | Fermentation |
Hotrienol | Floral | Fermentation |
Indole | Faecal | Untypical ageing |
Isoamyl acetate | Banana | Fermentation |
Isoamyl alcohol | Banana-solventy | Fermentation |
Isovaleric acid | Sweaty socks | Brettanomyces |
Lactic acid | Lactic | Malolactic conversion |
Limonene | Citrus | Fermentation |
Linalool | Coriander seed | Muscat |
Malic acid | Malic | Grape pulp |
Massoia lactone | Dried fruit | Overripening |
Methional | Mashed potatoes | Oxidation |
Methyl anthranilate | Grape jelly | Fox grape |
Methyl mercaptan | Drains | Reduction, light strike |
Methyl salicylate | Wintergreen | Fermentation |
Methyl thioacetate | Boiled cauliflower | Reduction, light strike |
MND | Prune | Bottle ageing |
Nerol | Floral | Muscat |
Octanoic acid | Goat cheese | Fermentation |
Piperitone | Minty | Bottle ageing |
Potato pyrazine | Potato skin | Ladybird taint |
Propanol | Pungent | Fermentation |
Raspberry ketone | Raspberry | Fermentation |
Rotundone | Black pepper | Syrah |
Skatole | Faecal | Untypical ageing |
SO2 | Irritation | Sulphur dioxide addition |
Sotolon | Caramel | Oxidation, noble rot |
Styrene | Glue | Brettanomyces |
Succinic acid | Umami | Fermentation |
Tartaric acid | Tartaric | Grape pulp |
TBA | Musty | Cork taint |
TCA | Musty | Cork taint |
TDN | Petrol | Bottle ageing of Riesling |
Thiophene-2-thiol | Rubber | Reduction, light strike |
trans-2-Nonenal | Cardboard | Oak fault |
Vanillin | Vanilla | Oak – high toast |
Whisky lactone | Coconut | Oak – American |
α-Thujone | Medicinal | Chinese mugwort |
β-Citronellol | Citronella | Muscat |
β-Cyclocitral | Shower curtain | Colour pigment degradation |
β-Damascenone | Tobacco | Colour pigment degradation |
β-Ionone | Violet | Colour pigment degradation |
γ-Nonalactone | Coconut | Oak |